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Gonzalo comeback on track

By Francisco Acedo

Villarreal's Gonzalo Rodriguez has returned to Spain as he closes on a comeback.

Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodriguez has flown back to Spain as he looks to return from a serious knee injury by the end of February.

The Argentinian suffered a cruciate ligament tear in a pre-season friendly with Real Madrid in August and was immediately ruled out of action for seven months.

After undergoing intensive rehabilitation in his home country the highly-rated stopper has now returned to Spain in order to continue his recovery.

Gonzalo is targeting a February return although the defender is fully aware he will have a fight on his hands to reclaim a first team place when he eventually returns.

"In Argentina I have worked for 10 hours each day because this injury is not easy and I am crazy to play again," said Gonzalo.

"Not that it will be easy to enter into the XI, but my objective is to work hard because I arrive with many dreams."

The Yellow Submarines have struggled so far this season with a number of injuries to key men leaving them in tenth position in La Liga, and news of Gonzalo's continuing recovery will come as a huge boost to manager Manuel Pellegrini.